BARRELED OVER

An unusual list of amenities came with the purchase of the ranch-style house in Hidden Hills--10 roosters, five chickens and, of particular interest to 3-year-old Jordan Gabriel, an aging mare named Rosie in the backyard stable.

Who would have guessed the moody old horse--some would call it a nag--would fascinate Gabriel, too tiny to ride Rosie, but not too small to saddle up on a pony named Pumpkin, her first of many equine experiences.

Jordan’s parents, transplanted Chicagoans, viewed their daughter’s fascination with equal part amusement and amazement.

“It was not a lifestyle that I knew anything about,” said Jordan’s mother, Nina, who learned plenty about the equestrian world as Jordan, a senior at Chaminade High, steadily climbed the rodeo ranks, evolving from a curious toddler into a finalist in the state barrel racing championship last month.

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Jordan Gabriel loves her horses.

On one of her bedroom walls is a plastic sign that pretty much says it all: “Cowgirl Parking Only--All Others Will Be Whupped.”

She must be an equestrienne extraordinaire to spend half of her weekends away from home, sacrificing her sleep by waking at 3 a.m. for long trips to horse shows in Big Bear, Hesperia and Brawley.

Jordan travels monthly to Turlock, south of Modesto, taking a bus to Bakersfield and riding a train from there just to practice with her trainer.

The term dedication scarcely scratches the surface here.

When baseball season ends, a player has the option to stow away bat, glove and cleats until next season. Not so for Jordan, who feeds, waters, exercises and cares for her horse, housed fewer than 100 yards from the family living room.

No wonder she has a side job, exercising a neighbor’s horses twice a week.

“I like riding a lot more than I like going to some high school party,” said Jordan, who spends week-long training sessions in Turlock during the summer. “I miss a lot of things going on down here, but I have more fun doing barrel racing than anything else.”

But the enjoyment she derives from riding quickly disappeared one Friday in 1994. The Gabriels had survived the Northridge earthquake, but they were hit with another serious jolt a few months later.

Jordan was in the backyard stable, getting ready to put the halter on Rosie like she had done hundreds of times, when the mare inexplicably charged and knocked over Jordan, stepping on one of her hips and kicking the other.

Her younger brother, Jeffrey, ran to tell their mother, while Jordan went into shock. She was transported via helicopter by paramedics to UCLA Medical Center.

Her parents had seen Jordan endure plenty of injuries, but this was different. Her father, Larry, remembers the scene in the emergency room.

“It was like watching M*A*S*H,” he said. “They’re calling out ‘Code 3’ or ‘Code 4’ and everybody’s jumping up and down and yelling.”

Several specialists, fearing internal bleeding, descended upon Jordan. But after a battery of tests, it was determined she had suffered deep bruises. She was lucky.

Jordan saddled up again within two weeks.

“It’s best to get right back on,” she said. “Otherwise, some people never do.”

Jordan survived another test two years ago, when her horse at the time, Snickers, became infected with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, a potentially fatal disease that affects the nervous system.

Jordan became a horse whisperer of sorts, caring for Snickers in the backyard stable, administering doses of affection and medication.

“Here was this great horse that I was just getting used to and he got sick,” Jordan said. “Knowing the fact that he could die was scary, because in most cases, they do. I was worried.”

But Snickers survived, as did Jordan’s passion for riding, which she hopes will culminate next year with a successful career in the Professional Women’s Rodeo Assn.

Jordan’s primary event is barrel racing, where the rider rapidly navigates the horse around three barrels arranged in a triangle.

The California Interscholastic Federation, the governing body of state high school sports, does not sanction equestrian events, leaving the task to the California High School Rodeo Assn.

In May, Jordan finished third in her CHSRA district, one of nine in the state, and qualified for the state final in June.

She rode Irish Bid, a 9-year-old gelding with a nickname, “Bo,” and a distinguished bloodline--his grand sire, Spectacular Bid, won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 1979.

Jordan and Bo ran into trouble in the second round of the state finals, coming into contact with the last of the three barrels and eliciting a devastating five-second penalty. Jordan’s first trip to the state finals ended in disappointment.

“I just wish I could take it back,” she said. “There’s no doubt I had one of the fastest horses there. Hopefully, next year.”

In the meantime, Jordan has participated in several non-high school events and has won nearly $1,000, money she is allowed to keep because the CIF isn’t involved in equestrian events.

In April, she finished 23rd among nearly 275 competitors in a barrel-racing event at the L.A. Equestrian Center in Burbank. The top 12 finishers were professionals, giving Jordan a promising glimpse into her potential.

At the very least, she has learned more about herself through horses.

“It’s taught Jordan an awful lot,” said her mother. “The competition’s wonderful, but the maturity she’s gained in taking care of her partner in this sport has led to a tremendous growing.

“It’s like being a parent.”